Do you want to change your life?

 

Have you ever wished your life could change? Perhaps you have made choices you regret. You are facing the consequences of those decisions this very moment. Is there any way to find help?

In the Bible, there's a story about a man who believed that if an angel troubled a pool of water, and if he could somehow be the first to get into that water, then he would be healed. This man had been waiting for 38 years, unable to move. Perhaps he had been paralyzed by an accident. We just don't know. But something happened in his life that brought this about.

Sometimes we get sick simply because we live in a sinful world. Disease and death were never part the plan. If Adam and Eve hadn't sinned, there wouldn't be any sickness. There wouldn't be any aging. And most importantly, I would have a full head of hair!

But sometimes we fall ill because of our own personal wrongdoing.

Consider the person who has abused alcohol his entire life. One day, his liver goes out. Is there a connection between the lifestyle he has chosen and what has happened to him physically? Absolutely.

What about someone who goes out on a drunken binge, gets behind the wheel of a car and is injured in an auto accident? Is there a connection between the way she was living and the horrible thing that happened to her? Of course.

Or how about the person who is sexually immoral? He frequently engages in extramarital sex. Then he discovers he is HIV positive. Is there a connection between his lifestyle and this horrible virus he now has? The answer is yes.

There can be a connection between what we do and what happens to us. I'm not saying every person who has liver damage, has a car accident or contracts HIV/AIDS came into those circumstances because they sinned. In fact, sometimes they are the victims of someone else's sin, like the person who is hit by the drunk driver, or the faithful mate who gets AIDS from her husband who has been unfaithful. But we do need to accept the fact that when we make our choices there will be consequences.

Still, the Bible tells us there are times when God allows sickness – physical and spiritual sickness – to teach us something. For example, when the apostle Paul experienced his "thorn in the flesh," it wasn't connected to any particular sin that we know of. Yet God allowed this suffering. Paul asked three times for God to take it away. But God's answer was, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). This would suggest that God allows sickness so he can show his people something we might not be able to see otherwise. Sometimes we are so stubborn and proud we think we don't need God. So the Lord gets our attention. And suddenly we realize maybe we do need God after all.

Out of a crowd of sick and suffering people waiting for an angel to trouble the pool of water, Jesus selected one man. He didn't preach to everyone. He didn't heal everyone. He went to only one individual and asked a poignant, and in some ways unexpected, question: "Do you want to get well?"

Now what kind of question is that to ask a man like this? It's not like he would have said, "No, I like hanging out here. This is just a lot of fun. You really ought to join me." But Jesus was asking a legitimate question. It was an important question, because not everyone wants to be made well. Not everyone wants his or her life to change.

"Do you want to be made well?" Jesus asked this man. In other words, "Do you want to change your life, not just physically, but also spiritually? Are you willing to place yourself, just as you are, in my hands? Are you ready for me to do for you what you are unable to do for yourself?"

As long as we think we can work things out on our own, as long we think we will figure life out someday, we'll never get anywhere. We need to call out to God and say, "Lord, I can't do it on my own, but I am calling out to you and asking you to help me. I am asking you to forgive me."

 

If you will call out to Jesus Christ, then he will forgive you. If you are willing to turn from your sin, make a clean break with the past, and begin to follow him, then you will see things happen in your life that you never thought were possible.

HARVEST MINISTRIES by Pastor Greg Laurie © 2007. All rights reserved. (Please include this line to forward the message).

The Healing Process

 

As I continue in my challenge with rheumatoid arthritis, it gets easier to see that my emotions and thoughts control so much of the solutions and healing. 

 

There is a definite correlation between what I think and whether I have pain or not. Since I choose to avoid the drugs with many side effects for this disease, it keeps me 'having to' focus on what I'm thinking and what my emotions are like. It has also forced me to make choices about who I am going to associate with.

 

Listening to people who live their lives in the "lower regions" of the earth will not edify or build anybody's health. I have had to make some difficult choices on the people I spend time with. I find life holds enough challenges without having to listen to people who have nothing positive to say. 

 

Have you ever noticed how "grimey" you feel after being with somebody like this? I literally feel like somebody beat the life out of me with an extended period of their ranting. God tells us:  "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."  And what does it promise? "And the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4)

 

Our lives are not about what we do (or what we own, but that's another hot topic). It's about who we are. For Christians that is pretty well laid out in the Bible, but as Christians, we too often do not believe that the Bible truly holds all answers and solutions for us.

 

If we don't get rid of the stress in our lives, we will never get rid of the diseases. Doesn't matter how many millions is poured into the "societies" searching for a cure, we may be the ones holding the "cure" in our hands all along.

 

God is always working for good in our lives (Romans 8:28) if we love Him and want His purpose and will in our lives. When we are sick and facing a health challenge, we especially need to look for good, if for nothing else but to speed along recovery.

 

Patients need to be encouraged to find the meaning in their health crisis. Most people have some kind of innate knowing of this, but it is not usually supported by conventional doctors as part of the healing process.

 

Consider this: Measure your life by loss and not by gain, Not by the wine drunk but by the wine poured forth, For love's strength is found in love's sacrifice, And he who suffers most has most to give.--- Anonymous

 

When ill we should ask, "Why do I need this in my life now? What might this condition or pain or symptom or limitation be trying to get me to do or stop doing?"

 

If you can ask yourself these questions without guilt or self-blame, get in touch with the answers, and start to make changes accordingly, then real progress in your healing becomes possible.

 

Abraham's wife Sarah had a health crisis. She had been unable to bear Abraham a child. She was now way past physically being able to do so (all hope was lost?) when God chooses to (finally?) enter the scene and promise Abraham that his seed would fill the earth.

 

Abraham believed God and said to his eyes (which saw the circumstances), "Stand back!" and to the laws of nature (that he knew in his mind), "Hold your peace!" and to his unbelieving heart, "Silence, you lying tempter!" He simply believed God.

 

Be sure you don't take a counterfeit like Abraham did. Sarah talked him into having a child with her handmaiden. Ismael and Isaac are still fighting with the continual war in the Middle East between Palestine and Israel.

 

Jehovah-Jireh = God Will Provide. Abraham learned his lesson on timing. He chose no counterfeits when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac on the altar. His faith had been built, he knew that God would provide in one way or another. He would not be moved by what he saw or felt.

 

What an example for us of trust in God. In the healing process, let's ask God what He is showing us, see the good, and move on to healing.

 

A HEALING MOMENT by Donna L. Watkins © 2006. All rights reserved. (Please include this line to forward the message).

Fix Your Eyes on Jesus

Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God. (Acts 3:1-9)

When you read these scriptures, meditate on them, receive them by faith and trust in God, and you will be a target for restoration, a target for healing, and a target for a miracle that God will perform in your life.

The Beautiful Gate in this chapter turned out to be not as beautiful as its name as daily the lame beggar sat at the gate, and every day he was hoping and expecting alms from people. It must have been a great burden for this beggar and his family to live their lives like that. Every single day he had to be carried to this gate and sit there begging from the people who were going in and out of the temple.

Before Peter and John passed by, no one apparently ever stopped and took time out to pray for him, except maybe to give him some small change as a sign of compassion. To him and his family this must have been the most important thing every day receiving the alms, so they could sustain themselves with whatever money they got. His weak body, poverty and circumstances probably already caused them to abandon all hope a long time ago. But look at what God did do in this tragic situation.

Peter and John, the disciples who walked with Jesus, loved and obeyed His will, went to the temple to pray. It was no coincidence that they passed through the Beautiful Gate. When the beggar saw them coming, he immediately went to work trying to get their attention so they would look at him and give alms. Instead Peter and John said, "Look at us." Without hesitating, he looked up to them expecting to receive something.

Beloved brothers and sisters, no matter how heavy the burdens of life are, whether it be sickness, troubles, or something else, Christ is also asking the same thing from us. He asks that we fix our spiritual eyes on Him, looking onto Him with hope. When you fix your eyes of faith on Christ and not on the sicknesses you are suffering, not on the burdens you carry, not on the situations and problems you are facing, then HE will DO SOMETHING!

But, too often it happens quite differently. Although we fix our eyes on Christ, we don't expect anything, because of a lack of faith and trust that He can do it. And so, we don't receive anything from the Lord. The beggar's face expressed hope, he was expecting something, and God responded and met his need through Peter and John.

Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have, give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." So, what did they have? They had POWER from the Most High God. Peter acted on the POWER that he had. He took the beggar by the hand, and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

Brothers and sisters, there may come times in our lives when money cannot help us. Maybe some of you are already experiencing that maybe the doctor told you that there is no cure for your illness. A luxurious house, jewelries, a fancy car, fancy clothes, a trip abroad, may not be able to heal our inner wounds. But if we are a child of God, we have hope, and that is CHRIST!

The Scripture in Acts 1:8 states, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you." The beggar who was lame since birth was healed! There was no doctor at that time that could cure him. But the power of Christ through Peter was able to heal him. That same power will work in you right now, if you open your heart and let Him. His Spirit is still working today.

I have personally seen the manifestation of God's power over and over again, a few months ago in one of the Crusades, 4 men carried a lame man with much effort on the stairs and laid him down upon the platform, the minute they laid him down the Power of God manifested, the man stood up and walked off the stage by himself.

In our earlier years of Ministry a little boy with his grandmother came over the border from Mexico, one leg was at least 6 inches shorter than the other and therefore he was limping badly. When we prayed, and laid hands on the boy's leg, by the power of God the boy's leg suddenly started to grow! I was amazed myself to see this, but praised and glorified God for His wonderful work.

In the end, God is glorified. Everything that happens in our lives as a child of God has a purpose, so that ultimately God may be glorified. It will become a living testimony for His children and especially for people who don't know God.

The lame beggar, who had sat at the Beautiful Gate, eventually had people amazed and praising God because of his healing and even today. The Beautiful Gate had now truly become beautiful and when we as children of God read these scriptures we know that God can do the same for us. God restores, God heals, God provides, God delivers and etc, and God makes His POWER known.

May this Christmas remind you to always keep your eyes on Jesus, and be faithful to God who gave us His Son. Have a Blessed Christmas!

GOTN MINISTRY by John Hartman © 2006 All rights reserved. (Please include this line to forward).

Stress

"As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands."(Psalm 119:143 NLT)

Comedienne Lilly Tomlin once said, "The problem with the rat race is that even if you win, you're still a rat." Interestingly, the concept of stress was introduced in the 1930s when a young scientist named Hans Selye was observing his lab rats. As he worked in his laboratory, he was constantly dropping the little creatures, chasing them around the room, and trapping them in the corner. He discovered that his rats kept getting ulcers and hormone imbalances. Borrowing a term from engineering, Dr. Selye coined the idea of stress to describe how the pressures of daily life the rat race can make us sick.

The best way of combating stress is to take the nearest exit, find a quiet spot, open the Bible, and enjoy fellowship with God in His Word. Make room for a silent night, a holy night when all is calm and all is bright. Stay close to Christ, and let Him bring you peace here on earth.

TURNING POINT MINISTRY by Dr. David Jeremiah © 2006 All rights reserved. (Please include this line to forward).

Changing Our Focus

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

Nothing can touch a believer's life unless it comes through the permissive will of God. That means He has complete control, even when it feels like Satan is running rampant through our personal lives. Trapped in Roman confinement, Paul knew that God could rescue him; after all, He had removed Peter's chains. (Acts 12:7) But Paul was not simply waiting around for liberation. Even in his chains, he earnestly continued with his kingdom work because he believed God did everything for a reason.

It is true that the Lord has a purpose for whatever He brings into a person's life. Though we may desperately wish for different circumstances, God allows us to go through a given situation when it will ultimately bring about the most favorable result. If we allow Him to finish the work instead of trying to extricate ourselves, we'll see a positive outcome.

Paul's time in prison proved a benefit for the Gospel, though logically, the spread of the Word should have been severely hindered by the confinement of such a great preacher. In two years, he had been guarded by many of the elite praetorians (Philippians 1:13), and we know what Paul talked to them about Christ during their shifts.

There isn't a single verse in the Bible that says believers are promised an easy life. In fact, the Word warns that the opposite is true (John 16:33). But we, like Paul, can choose to live above our circumstances by realizing that God has a plan to use our experiences for our good and the benefit others.

IN TOUCH MINISTRY by Dr. Charles Stanley © 2001-2006. All rights reserved. (Please include this line to forward).

Good Night's Sleep

It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: For so He giveth His beloved sleep. (Psalm 127:20)

The best bridge between hope And despair is often a good night's sleep. Medical researchers are coming to what may seem to be a common sense conclusion: a missing ingredient to health may be "vitamin Zzzzzzz."

When participants in one study were cheated out of four hours of sleep of four consecutive nights, they had on average a 30 percent drop in their immune systems, as measured by natural killer-cell activity. Such a crop can readily increase a person's suscepitibility to colds and flue, and perhaps to other serious diseases. Says Sleep researcher Michael Irvin, M.D., "Many just need a regular-length sleep to get those natural killer cells revved up again."

While a steady diet of sufficient sleep may not completely prevent disease, it can improve the body's defense system and help a person combat disease more efficiently and effectively.

Sleep is the cheapest health aid a person can "take." Sleep is God's own means of restoring health to the body, as well as providing rest to the mind. Many have reported a new outlook or a change of heart after a good night's sleep.

Ask God to renew your strength as you sleep tonight. Then get to bed on time so He can give you what you requested.

Shared by : Nancy Nemetchek

Do you have Phobias?

"I sought the Lord and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears." (Ps. 34:4)

The definition of a phobia is "an irrational fear."

 

Some phobias are now accepted as "normal." Such as fear of germs. The chemical manufacturers certainly have instilled into most of the advertising viewers that germs are an enemy and chemicals must be used to kill them. So people spray and wash and pour chemicals all over their homes making it a real challenge for the body to detoxify. The liver is bombarded in this toxic world we live in. Our body was designed to deal with germs. Germs were part of Creation. Chemicals are man-made and we are rapidly seeing what they are doing to Creation and the resources that God gave us to survive.

 

Then there are those who fear chemicals. I went through many years of my life with Environmental Illness or Multiple Chemical Sensitivity as they call it now....reacting to almost every chemical known. The word "chemical" would bring on a reaction. A reaction that I now know has fear at the root of it. NOT that there isn't a definite physiological response, but having been delivered from MCS after 20 years of misery, I now see the darkness involved in it. Pastor Henry Wright's book deals specifically with lots of information on MCS since it was the most successful area of victory he has had in the area of health problems with a spiritual/ emotional root.

 

The news media has certainly convinced us that strangers are a possible danger, so we should not approach any body we don't know....even if they need help. And the list of fears goes on and on.......

 

The Bible tells us that we should "FEAR NOT." If you look for those words in the Bible (KJV), they appear 144 times. If you've been reading "A More Excellent Way" you've been made aware at how much fear is at the root of many health issues. The book is a definite way to shed light on dark issues.

 

Phobias are a real challenge since we tend to not want anybody to know about them, so it's as much of a challenge "handling" our phobias to keep them private, as it is living with them.

 

I was thinking about how to discover what fear is at the bottom of a particular phobia. My Mom was fearful of a long list of things....which never bothered me. Heights, water, storms, flying, even car travel wasn't comfortable for her. I guess somewhere as a teen I decided that I wasn't going to have those problems.

 

And I didn't. However, the devil always does a twistie from one generation to the next so it's not so obvious to those seeking relief from a generational curse, which may sometimes called a hereditary issue.

 

I've still got fragments of various "habits" I've identified as phobias and I am continually seeking answers to them. I was doing a devotion a few weeks ago and a Scripture caught my eye since this topic was on my mind.

 

Ps. 34:4 "I sought the Lord and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears." Well, surely David had fears he didn't even know about. I realized that I could chew up and digest and get the nutrition from this Scripture for phobias. So, I've been thinking about it and internalizing it. Not as a routine, but as I have a phobia problem or think about phobias.

 

We could spend lots of time and energy and health (mental and physical) trying to deal with each small issue in our lives that relate to fear.....or we could use the power and energy of the WORD to do it for us.

 

As I meditate on that Scripture, I'm realizing that things are changing. I'm doing things that I don't normally do because had phobias limited me. So.....I realize that the Word is really going down deep and beginning to DELIVER me. I'm so excited. I don't "feel" like the Scripture has changed me, but I see the evidence. Meditating on Scripture is apparently very powerful.

 

I also saw something else after I'd decided to internalize the above Scripture that I thought I was supposed to include: Ps. 25:15 "My eyes are ever on the Lord for only He will release my feet from the snare."

We really can't do it in our own power. BUT HE CAN! TRUST IN HIM - He is ever Faithful to deliver us....we only have to Believe!

Phobias by Donna L. Watkins, Taken from the free online ezine, "A Healing Moment"

Permission is granted for use of any articles written by Donna L. Watkins if credit includes the author's name and an active link to this website.

Fw: A merry heart does good like a medicine

 "A merry heart does good, like a medicine!" (Proverbs 17:22)

 

The human body, which GOD designed, can produce it's own disease fighting chemicals. GOD has created us "fearfully and wonderfully." These bodies that we walk around in are truly amazing! Evolution is just NOT smart enough to equip us with the mind-boggling intelligence that our bodies contain!

 

For example........when you are joyful, your body secretes two types of chemicals that fight cancer and other diseases. When you experience that exhilarating feeling of being truly joyful.......it does GOOD......"like a medicine."

 

One type of chemical released in your body when you are joyful is called "Neuropeptides." These "Neuropeptides" are the same kind of chemical that cancer patients are injected with at the cost of up to $40,000.00 per shot! And GOD created our bodies to produce them NATURALLY ......by having a joyful heart!

 

Another chemical which is secreted into the bloodstream, by having a joyful heart, is known as "Opioids". (You can see the root word for "Opium"....which can be a dangerous drug but produces a calming effect.) Opioids are secreted into the bloodstream and enhance the immune system to help fight the common cold. So, is there a cure for the common cold? YES! A merry heart doeth good....like a medicine!

 

You see, our minds, bodies and spirits are all connected. We are a walking network of amazing super-intelligence! We are NOT "gods"......we are created "in the image of GOD." Let's not forget that there's only ONE true GOD.

 

But... GOD has created us so unique! And when we are joyful, .our minds, bodies and spirits are effected by it! Your mind can sense true joy coming from your spirit, and when your mind "picks-up" joy on the radar screen, it sends out "Opioids" into the bloodstream which connect with "monocytes." The "monocytes" receive messages from the "opioids" which trigger a "Pac- Man" like response and they begin to EAT bacteria and viruses that tear down your immune system.

 

If you are plagued by fear, worry, stress and anger, you are opening the door to sickness. Your body is not secreting what it needs to keep you vibrant. Is it any wonder Jesus tells us to stop worrying? (Matthew 6). Is it any wonder that the Apostle Paul tells us to stop worrying? ( Phil. 4). Seek first His Kingdom and righteousness and all of your needs will be given unto you. (Matt. 6:33)

Take care of your mind, body and spirit. Have a joyful heart. Stop killing yourself. Allow that wise body God gave you to release those wonderful chemicals in order that you may experience optimum health and performance for His glory!

Phobias by Donna L. Watkins, Taken from the free online ezine, "A Healing Moment"

Permission is granted for use of any articles written by Donna L. Watkins if credit includes the author's name and an active link to this website.

Finding Hope in Suffering

"There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned and asked, 'Who has touched my clothes?' She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth." (Mark 5:25-30, 33)

Have you ever felt that God doesn't realize your suffering? Sometimes when praying the Scriptures, you encounter stories that leave you thinking, "How random…" or "Seriously, that happened?" or (even) "Eeewwww, that's gross!".

If you've ever lost hope or allowed suffering to consume you – reach out to Jesus. For me, the above account of the woman with a hemorrhage was one of those stories…because I'm a guy and because I have an aversion to any blood that is not my own. (Basically, I don't mind the emergency room, as long as it is due to my own stupidity).

Most Biblical scholars agree that the "woman with a hemorrhage" was experiencing severe menstrual bleeding. Far more than her monthly period or an irregular menstrual cycle, the woman was suffering greatly. Possibly she had an infection or a severe hormone imbalance. She may have had fibroid tumors or some other internal ailment that was almost impossible to detect or treat in that time period.

Due to its subject matter, this is one of those Gospel stories that can sometimes get written off as "just another nice healing" by Jesus. Due to our own cultural misunderstandings and ignorance, the story doesn't leap off the page quite like it should. As a result of both, we don't encounter the beauty of this story or its modern relevance quite like we should. But there is far more going on here than meets the eye upon a quick reading of the encounter.

What is amazing is not the uniqueness of the woman's problem, or the fact that several doctors were unable to "solve" her problem. What is amazing about this Scriptural encounter goes far deeper than physical healing. To truly appreciate what happened, we need to take a broader look, at social norms, cultural constraints and the basic attitude of the time toward things like a woman's cycle.

In the time of Christ, as prescribed in the Book of Leviticus 15:25-27, not only is the woman "unclean" for seven days (the perceived length of her monthly cycle) but anything or anyone that she touches is unclean. That means whatever she wears – unclean. Wherever she sits – unclean. Whomever she touches – unclean.

Then, take note, it says she suffered this way for twelve years. She had spent every penny on doctors who were unable to help, while her physical bleeding persisted, she was being figuratively "bled dry" by "healers", some real, others just charletains taking advantage of a woman in pain. She, no doubt, would have been very frail and weak due to the blood loss. She most likely lived as a social outcast, unable to interact with or touch anyone. Her home would have been "unclean". She most likely had few friends, a reputation for her ailment, a loss of hope for a life of joy or normalcy and no true intimacy of which to speak.

Then, along comes this Jesus… She had left her house, that day, upon hearing that He was in the area. Perhaps, for the first time, the people from the town didn't notice her "out" because of their excitement for the Rabbi from Nazareth. Jesus was in the middle of a plea from Jairus (the synagogue official) to help his daughter, when the woman reached out to touch the tassel…the hem, of Jesus' garment.

So, what's the big deal about that, you might ask? Remember that due to her condition, anyone she touches becomes unclean. Not only did she risk "defiling" the Lord (in the eyes of the culture) in their encounter, but consider what it took for her emotionally, to act in such a way. Doctors had been unable to heal her. She was shunned by everyone else. She was weak and frail and without hope. Undoubtedly, over time, her self esteem had taken a hit, her self worth must have plummeted. Perhaps she had even stopped believing in God's love for her.

And (as I said before) along comes Jesus… Consider the courage it took for her to reach out to Him… Imagine the renewal of hope that must have surged through her when she drew near to Him… Dwell on the power that must have moved through her when she touched His garment… Think about the faith it took for her, an unclean outcast, not only to "ask" the Lord for His healing, but to believe enough in His ability and His love, to break every social constraint and forget every cultural bias she endured, to reach out and "risk" making her Healer (and Savior) "unclean".

All of the sudden, this story is a story of heroic virtue, hope and faith, not just of bleeding, healing and warm fuzzies.

How does this relate to you (and I) regardless of gender or sickness in the technologically savvy 21st century, you might ask?

If you've ever felt like a social outcast, on the outside looking in – reach out to Jesus.
If you've ever felt unclean, sinful, unworthy of His love – reach out to Jesus.
If you've ever lost hope or allowed suffering to consume you – reach out to Jesus.
If you have begun to believe that God doesn't care about your pain – reach out to Jesus.
If you think you're all alone in this world and no one notices you reaching out – reach out (again) to Jesus.

And if you are afraid at how He will react when you do reach out… read and pray this passage again and take faith, the Lord is never outdone in generosity. Christ is ready and willing to heal you, to make you whole, again, in every way. And once you've reached out to Jesus as healer, it will be easier for you to embrace Christ as your Savior.

Just open your hand and extend it. Soon, you too will feel the healing power of God.

Finding hope in suffering by Mark Hart at lifeteen.com

Are You An Outcast? Overcoming the Wounds of Rejection

When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. (Matthew 8:1-3)

I was watching a television program this week with the woman who won The Swan. The Swan is a reality television program based on the classic story of The Ugly Duckling. The ugly duckling was really a swan. But before his metamorphosis into a swan he was unsightly to the other ducklings. And because of the way he looked, the other ducklings despised him and rejected him. He was an outcast. And nobody wanted to play with him until he went through a radical transformation and became a swan. This story is a metaphor for the superficial, looks conscious, lust driven, competitive popular culture in which we live.

The woman who won The Swan was plain and average before she underwent four months of cosmetic surgeries. But after her transformation she was beautiful and stunning. However, she never got over the hurt and the pain of the rejection she felt when she was plain and average. Even though she went through a radical external transformation, her internal communication was still the same. "I'm ugly. Nobody wants me for me."

Consequently, she was rejecting potential relationships. She wasn't giving them a chance to get to know her and wasn't giving herself a chance to get to know them. Her internal wounds were so deep that her rejection manifested into rejecting others. Rejected people reject people. And although her body image had changed, her self-image remained the same. She may have looked like a swan on the outside, but she still felt like an ugly duckling on the inside.

Many times when we come to Christ we get saved, but we still have some deep wounds that need to be healed. Rejection is a part of life for every human being. And for most people the wounds are quite difficult to overcome. Why? Because rejection is a demon spirit that Satan releases to destroy your life and systematically breakdown your mind, will, and emotions, until you cease to effectively function in society.

And even once you get delivered from rejection, you still have to be able to handle rejection in life. Deliverance from rejection does not mean that you get so delivered that you never feel the sting of rejection again. Deliverance from rejection means that you got delivered from a demon of rejection and now you can experience and encounter rejection, but not live your life being controlled and dominated by it.

And not only must we overcome the demon of rejection, but we must learn to love rejected people.

The spirit of rejection works two ways. It causes you to feel hurt, because someone is doing something and acting a certain way that is rejecting you. Or it causes you to feel hurt, because you are doing things and acting a certain way that causes people to reject you.

Many times we're too caught up into our relationships with people and what they think of us that we don't have a healthy and balanced walk with God. You've got to have a daily prayer life, a daily Word life, and a daily worship life. You've got to be so connected to the Father that no matter what comes your way you know that He loves you. The closer you get to God the less rejection will bother you.

Jesus was the most rejected man who ever lived. Isaiah 53:3 says, "He was despised and rejected by men." Mark 8:31 says, "And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again." Jesus knew that He would be rejected, and that He would be betrayed, and that He would be crucified. But He never came under the power of demonic control. Jesus never had a demon spirit. He was sinless. Every time He ran into rejection, He ran to His father in prayer. And it was His connection to the Father that sustained Him during times of rejection.

Jesus loved rejected people. And here in Mathew Chapter 8 Jesus is ministering to a rejected person. This man was an ostracized outcast banished from society, because he had leprosy. To be a leper in the Bible was very traumatic. This man was rejected and discarded by his community, his culture, and his religion. He was despised and to be avoided. Everyone was afraid of him and nobody wanted to be bothered with him. He was a reject. He didn't belong. He had no right to expect acceptance, love, friendship or kindness. He was to be refused and thrown away like yesterday's garbage. He was a leper. And to be a leper was the epitome of rejection. The spirit of rejection was moving against him everyday of his life. He couldn't escape it. It was apart of who he was. You can only imagine how it undermined and destroyed his self-esteem, his purpose, and his potential.

And just as Jesus finished His big message, the Sermon on the Mount, and ministering to the multitudes with the cheers of the crowd still ring in His ears and everyone jockeying for some face time with the preacher. Behold this leper, a social outcast, a religious misfit comes before Him. A man rejected by society. A man rejected by the church. A man discriminated against by his community and his culture. And he's saying to himself, "He ministered to all of them, but will he minister to me? I'm a leper. He preaches to multitudes, but will He touch me? I'm a reject."

And he drops to his knees before Jesus in an attitude of humility and in a position of desperation and brokenness to worship the Lord. He heard the sermon and now he's responding to the altar call. Desperate for deliverance and risking rejection once again, he said, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." You can hear the nervousness and the timidity and the pain of rejection in his voice. "Lord, I don't know if You want to, But if You want to maybe You could heal me. Maybe You could make me clean. Maybe you could remove this stigma, this shame, this disgrace from my life. I just want to be loved and accepted and received. Lord, if You're willing, You can make me normal. I just want to be normal and regular like other people. Will You receive me? Will You love me? Will You accept me?"

And Jesus reached out to the leper and touched him and said, "I'm willing, be cleansed." The despised and rejected Savior was willing to deliver the despised and rejected leper. Jesus was willing to take the time to minister to someone who nobody else wanted to be bothered with.

Why did this man come to Jesus? Something drew him. It was the love of God that compelled him. Jesus was willing to reach out and intimately touch someone who no one would touch. Compassion (love in action) will have you reach out to the rejects and love the unlovable and touch them with the mercy and the miracles of Christ. Once we can come to the knowledge and understanding that God loves us it breaks the root of rejection and draws us to Jesus Christ.

And immediately the leper was healed. Jesus touched an untouchable and in that moment, in that instant he was delivered from leprosy. One touch of from Jesus (love manifested in the flesh) removed his stigma and his pain. He was cured. He was cleansed. And he was free. All the external and internal wounds were a distant memory.

God is no respecter of persons. He loves the unlovable. He loves the leper. He loves the reject. And He loves you. Jesus loves you enough to reach out to you, to touch you, and to set you free. The ministry of deliverance has the power to pull you out of bondage and demonic control. In one moment this man went from being a reject to being recognized and received by Christ.

If you have a wounded heart or a broken spirit, Jesus loves you. He draws near to them that have broken heart and saves as such that have a contrite spirit. And nothing can separate you from His love. He's willing to heal you and make you whole. He that cometh to Jesus, He will no wise cast out. He won't reject you. You are accepted in the Beloved. You are received and loved in Jesus Christ. Remember that you are no longer an ugly duckling. You are a beautiful swan. If you can see yourself the way that God sees you, you can overcome.

Yours for Acceptance in the Beloved, Apostle Brian S. Lewis email: apostleblewis@ancla.info phone: (310) 348-8180 web: http://www.ancla.info